7 Days Caribbean Cooking Courses & Yoga Retreat Jamaica

Camp Cabarita, Westmoreland, Jamaica

Overview

Jamaica Yoga Retreat and Caribbean Cooking Course

Experience peaceful and beautiful Jamaica away from the tourist spots at Camp Cabarita lodge, which is located in a gorgeous and tropical setting. Relax and recharge while enjoying the islands, best through cultural immersion, hands-on cooking classes, cultural countryside tours, local excursion, and Eat to Live health session. Enjoy the islands tropical bounty, from local fruits to vegetables, grown on the local surrounding farms and supported by nature. Join health and wellness sessions with the guest, health diva Kim Syles through her Eat to Live sessions, along with the tour host, Chef Freda Gore, who will be on hand to take you though a Caribbean culinary adventure while giving you a trip of a lifetime.

Highlights

Dine and enjoy sea view at the cliff restaurant

Take part in workshops on preparing vegetarian meals

Join cooking class with Chef Freda and the lodge's in-house chef

Enjoy morning yoga sessions and hiking tours led by an experienced guide

Tour the farm and learn about local crops and tropical fruits and vegetables

Bird's nest

The bird's nest is a two-person loft with two single beds and a hammock. The space is compact but there is still plenty of room for your belongings.

Campsites

Camp Cabarita’s campsites are flat, 10 inch x 10 inch grassy areas. While the grounds and Camp Cabarita are manicured, adjoining properties are undeveloped tropical forest canopy. Each campsite includes access to spacious covered but open air dining lounge, lodge, and bar. Electricity can be brought to the camping sites.

Irie cottage flat

The Irie flat is the ground floor, and is elevated 6 feet from the forest floor. Both levels comfortably accommodate double occupancy with twin sized outfitter cots. When you step outside of your room onto a a private covered veranda you’ll find a sitting area and a comfortable hammock. These spaces are ideal for individuals or couples looking for a private and relaxing experience. Covert sensory stimulation abounds as you will enjoy the melodic sounds of the forest fauna and a faint but relaxing sound of the Cabarita River. Compounded by brilliant views of adjacent tropical forest and mountains. This omnipresent constant duality soothes all who visit subliminally. Amenities: private entrance and rear balcony.

Irie cottage loft

Two private spacious individual flats are available in the Irie cottage. Both types comfortably accommodate double occupancy with twin sized outfitter cots. When you step outside of your room onto a private, covered veranda, you’ll find a sitting area with two Adirondack chairs and a comfortable hammock. These spaces are ideal for individuals or couples looking for a private and relaxing experience. Covert sensory stimulation abounds as you will enjoy the melodic sounds of the forest fauna and a faint but relaxing sound of the Cabarita River. Compounded by brilliant views of adjacent tropical forest and mountains. This omnipresent constant duality soothes all who visit subliminally. Because of the private location of Camp Cabarita, there are no visible neighbors, buildings, or lights. Amenities: private entrance and rear balcony.

Jamaica jungalo - treetops and forest

Two spacious individual flats are available in the Jamaica jungalo, the forest flat is the ground floor suite. Each suite has two double beds, a walk-in closet, and half bath. There are front and rear-covered verandas perfect for morning sun or afternoon shade. The jungalo suites perfect for solo eco travelers or couples looking for a private and comfortable accommodation. Covert sensory stimulation abounds as you will enjoy the melodic sounds of the forest fauna and a faint but relaxing sound of the Cabarita River. Compounded by brilliant views of adjacent tropical forest and mountains. Amenities: private entrance, front and rear balcony, walk-in closet, and half-size bathroom.

The building is also equipped with some facilities to ensure your comfortable stay. They have removed the old bamboo seating to make way for new furniture and a new seating plan, all carefully designed and hand-made to create a comfortable dining, lounging, and bar experience. Guests often request breakfast and be served at the bar, and prior to it’s reconstruction it was a little too narrow for the complete comfort it now offers. Whether it’s a traditional Jamaican breakfast and hand made cup of Blue Mountain coffee, a mid-day cold-pressed juice, or a local rum, you’re sure to find the new bar very accommodating. The new bar stools were designed and made in Orange Hill by a local metal worker artisan. With a unique feature of rasta colors for the seats, the bar has a great vibe and look with these custom stools. These free standing seats are portable and therefore, can help the lodge accommodate a variety of uses including yoga, fitness, and other workshops.

The new viking dining table promotes intimate and family style meals. David Kaiser of Link Builds has designed new furniture and a seating plan for the layout of the lodge which remains integral to the cozy feel true to Camp Cabarita eco lodge’s roots but also make the dining area more communal and functional. The table comfortably seats 12 people. The lounge at Camp Cabarita lounge recently also recently received an upgrade. Built in seating was removed to make way for 3 hammocks and several adoroindak style chairs. The Eno and mesh hammocks built for 2 and a great way to beat the heat of the day or chill listening to the sounds of the forest in the evening. The parachute nylon fabric is breathable and comfortable. The Panarama deck is the second-level, covered deck of the Camp Cabarita lodge. It’s the perfect spot for morning yoga and a cup of coffee. You can enjoy the privacy and views of this flexible space any time of day.

Day 1 - Arrival

Today, after you arrive at Camp Cabarita, get settled into your room, meet the staff, see and explore the lodge's beautiful property.

Day 2 - Mayfield Falls

Today, walk to your neighboring area of Mayfield Falls to hike the waterfalls and swim in the natural freshwater pools. Mayfield Falls is rated Jamaica’s number one eco-tourist attraction and rated in the top 10 attractions in Jamaica. Spring fed from the mountain with two beautiful waterfalls and several natural pools, this is an unforgettable eco-tourism experience. Later today, join an afternoon session of Eat to Live with the guest health diva, Kim Syles, followed by a popping bamboo bonfire at night. The popping sparks of a bamboo fire are a sight to see. Camp fires and nature go hand in hand is almost every culture, and Jamaica is no different. Dried bamboo will be gathered from the property, you welcome to pitch in gathering it if you like or simple watch as Camp Cabarita staff expertly cuts 70 foot pieces of bamboo with the tool of choice, a machete of course! An added benefit on clear nights are the amazingly bright stars. Camp Cabarita is about 2000 feet above sea level, making star gazing the perfect addition to an evening fire. Have a seat in one of the Adirondack style chairs and enjoy a hot herbal tea or local rum mixer.

Day 3 - Cooking class

After breakfast, join a morning cooking class with Chef Freda and a local chef, where you learn the history of Jamaican cuisine through a spice and herb session. In the afternoon, take part in a tour of a neighboring farm with local and exotic variety of fruits and vegetables from sugar cane, honey banana, pineapple, breadfruit, and more. At the end of your tour, you have the rest of the afternoon to relax down in the river and enjoy some sunbathing. Later, if you have the energy and you are up for it, you can take a walk to the nearby shops and bars to play dominoes and get to know the locals. You will shop for local ingredients to be used in the next day's vegetarian cooking class. Then, have dinner back at the lodge

Day 4 - Eco hike

After breakfast, you will begin your morning with a yoga session, followed by eco hike through the local mountains with an experienced guide. During the tour, you can stop for a local meal or fish fry. In the afternoon, join vegetarian Jamaican ital cooking class. Then, have dinner at the lodge.

Day 5 - Appleton rum tour

Early morning, join a riverside yoga session, followed by the Appleton rum tour. This tour offers unique insight into a part of Jamaica’s history and rich complex culture. Experience first hand, the historic production process of Appleton estates’ rums. Then, you will visit Roaring River and take part in caves excursion in the afternoon. Located a few miles north-east of Savanna La Mar, in the middle of the mangrove eco system, lies an oxygenated bubbling green river and a vast cave system accessible with paved concrete walkways used a generation ago as escape routes by runaway slaves. The water in the pools of the small caverns branching off of the main caves is refreshing and full of healing minerals. Music may even be played in the cave for your entertainment. Mixology cocktail class with local fresh fruit will follow.

Day 6 - Sea adventure

Today, head to Blue Hole in the morning. Blue Hole mineral spring sits beneath a cavernous opening in Jamaica’s terrain and is completely encased by karst limestone. The naturally occurring minerals in the limestone act as an underground filter for the steady up-welling of water, leaving behind a luxuriously pure bath of minerals. Later on, head to the West End in the afternoon to snorkel and see the sites. At the turnabout in Negril Harbor, the 7-mile stretch of white sand, at first gradually and then quite abruptly, turns into cliffs that descend dramatically into the Caribbean Sea. This area is ideal for snorkeling, cliff diving, and is home to dozens of small restaurants bars and charming hotels. The West End is a calm and relaxing spot to watch the sun set into the ocean. You will have dinner on the cliffs, followed by evening entertainment.

Day 7 - Shopping

Today, spend the day at local springs with lunch prepared. In the afternoon, take a trip to the nearest city to shop at the local farmers market and come back to help as little or as much with the preparation of traditional Jamaican meals with the local chef and your host, Chef Freda.

Chef Freda Gore

Freda Gore is the owner of Caribbean Culinary Tours, restaurant, and catering service. She has vast working experiences as chef instructor, trainer, and personal chef in several hotels and restaurants like Hotel Bay Antigua West Indies (a position she held for 15 years), Royal Antigua Hotel, Coconut Grove Restaurant, Pineapple Grille Restaurant, and Silver Palate Catering Service at Fort Lauderdale in Miami. Chef Gore is also a certified Caribbean hospitality trainer.

Chef Freda attended and holds degrees and certificates from the Caribbean Hospitality Training Institute, Cornell University School of Hotel Management (center for professional development), American Hotel and Motel Association (food and beverage management), and American Chef Association (certified chef program).

Camp Cabarita is located in the Dolphin Head Mountains of Westmoreland, Jamaica. The property has a private location about a quarter mile off the main road. It is approximately 2,000 feet above sea level and equidistant with Montego Bay, Negril, and Sav-La-Mar.

While you're in the area, you can also take part in other exciting activities such as beach day, where you paddle-board and sunbathe, join glass bottom boats tours, and Catamarian seafood cruise. Mountain top hike, a challenging climb to a local mountain top, is also possible.

While enjoying your culinary holiday in Jamaica, get relaxed and pamper yourself with spa treatments. There is a selection of a fresh lotion of cucumber, aloe, and coconut oil to take care of your skin. Spa day treatments such as massage, body scrub, facial, manicure, and pedicure are available.

"Thank you for the unique and outstanding cooking techniques of your islands, you have left us with lifetime memories. Best regards."

Caribbean Culinary Tours website, edited

Review by Michael

"It was a unique and great chance to learn the local culture, which has expanded my culinary horizon."

Caribbean Culinary Tours website, edited

Review by Newland

"Thank you so much for the warm hospitality and such a wonderful day, it was a great pleasure and experience the cooking class and day in general."

Caribbean Culinary Tours website, edited

Review by Jennifer

"Thank you for an amazing experience filled with fun and wonderful memories. I enjoyed not only the cooking but also learning about your islands culture. I look forward to returning one day soon."

Caribbean Culinary Tours website, edited

Review by Andrea

"Freda and staff, thank you very much for the tour in Antigua, you taught us a lot about your islands culture and recipes. The friendly staff really made it a great experience. Thank you for your time and hospitality!"

Caribbean Culinary Tours, edited

Review by Juliene

"Thank you so much for your warm hospitality and expertise in the kitchen and on our Antigua tour. We have all enjoyed it tremendously and plan to come back again. Good food, good friends!"

Caribbean Culinary Tours, edited

Review by Lindsay

"Thank you so much for the wonderful experience in Saint Croix. We all had such a fabulous time and learned a lot about your islands delightful recipes."

Caribbean Culinary Tours, edited

Review by Melissa

"Freda and Freeston, Barbados was such a unique experience. I have never done anything like that before and I loved it! Thank you for your time and also for your gift bags, it was sweet of you. The food and your company were amazing!"

Caribbean Culinary Tours, edited

Review by Krista

"Thank you for the amazing experience, I had a great time learning about your islands recipes and different cultural cooking styles. Thank you very much for the backpack of goodies!"

Caribbean Culinary Tours, edited

Review by Derek

"Dear Freda and your team, thank you for the cooking class and wonderful food I had in Barbados. Cant wait to try cooking some dishes when I get home. Thanks again!"